Wales coach Steve Hansen is giving Ospreys flyer Shane Williams and Scarlets full-back Garan Evans a first taste of Rugby World Cup action against new bookies favourites New Zealand on Sunday.
Hansen has retained five of the side that sealed a quarter-final spot and a likely meeting with England with a 27-15 victory over Italy, in Sonny Parker, Robin McBryde, Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain and captain Colin Charvis.
Williams will win his 12th Wales cap on the wing, although he is also providing squad cover for the scrum-half position.
Evans will win his fourth cap and joins an experienced back line with the other changes from Wales’ last outing – Mark Taylor, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper – boasting almost 100 caps between them.
The forward line looks like Hansen’s first choice front row with Scarlets prop Iestyn Thomas coming in for the injured Duncan Jones (broken leg) to join McBryde and Adam Jones.
Robert Sidoli who has figured in all Wales’ RWC group matches so far, starts in the second row alongside Cockbain with Gareth Llewellyn rested, and Charvis is joined in the back row by Jonathan Thomas and Alix Popham.
Wales: G Evans; S Williams, M Taylor, S Parker, T Shanklin; S Jones, G Cooper, I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, J Thomas, C Charvis (capt), A Popham.
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, C Wyatt, D Jones, D Peel, C Sweeney, G Thomas.
New Zealand: Malili Muliaina; Doug Howlett, Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko; Carlos Spencer, Justin Marshall; Dave Hewett, Keven Mealamu, Greg Somervill, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Reuben Thorne (capt), Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins.
Replacements: Mark Hammett, Kees Meeuws, Rodney So’oialo, Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher, Daniel Carter, Ma’a Nonu.
